Hi All, New here, and although 54, relatively new to backpacking. I've done a few day trips and will be going for my first overnight tomorrow. Here's my question; Does anyone have a recommendation for using a MOLLE II 100ml hydration pack with an older external frame pack? I have a Jansport D2, ( I believe that's the model. ) I have the MOLLE II "Skilcraft" hydration pack, which is great, but I am looking for the best way to incorporate it with the Jansport.ATB

Thanks Guys, My water filter is made almost specifically for the hydration pack, so... I'm sorta committed to it for now. I have a milspec canteen with cover and strap... [i]and pinhole[i], but I bought the "Frontier Pro" filter. It says I can use it with water bottles, but I would like to use the hydration pack. Anyone doing it with a "classic" backpack and a "camelbak" style pack? I may just try to rig it to the outside of the pack. Seems like there ought to be a more elegant solution. I have thought about wearing it on the front, but have not tried that yet. Took about a 4 mile walk with it and my dog yesterday. She and I finished about half the bladder.

I do not use a bladder but I do use a water bottle in the side pocket with a hose. I find that if I have to take off the pack to get a drink I do not drink enough. The bottle is only a 16 oz so I end up taking the pack off from time to time but I can get a few sips at any time.

I have an old Camp Trails backpack with a water bottle pocket that tilts forward. I can actually reach my water bottle with the pack still on. It looks similar to this one:At close to 4 pounds its not the lightest pack out there, but for me it is comfortable and I really like the water bottle pocket.

I too like using a water bladder when I backpack; I tend to drink much more that way than if I have to stop and dig out a water bottle.

I'd suggest taking the bladder out of its pack (if you weren't already going to do that) to save weight, then put it in one of the upper pockets of the Jansport - wherever it fits best. A center location will keep your load balanced better side to side, so maybe even put it in the main compartment on top of everything else, with the tube coming out between zipper stops at the top.

If you're not bping in far, I wouldn't worry much about a hydration pack access during your hike, would be useful in camp is all since it has a filter. Not familiar with what you have. What I meant by a short distance was not necessarily close to home, a short hike into your campsite is what I meant.

Well, I have done my first solo overnight in Pike Ntl. Forest. About 3 miles in and 1000 ft elevation gain and it rains, then small hail. I keep hiking and have several epiphanies-My waterproof shell isn't waterproof anymore, or even water resistant. My 20+ year old Jansport pack is the same. After sheltering under a couple of trees and cooking and eating a hot ramen, I go back down about 1/2 a mile to a place I'd noticed on the way up. Pitch the tent, eat, hang the bear bag, ( PCT method... ) and get ready for the "the rack". Once again, I have packed too much. I have food enough for 2 people for 5 days or more... I was going to stay a possible 3, but the weight and overall wetness of my cloths and pack contents has helped me decide on one night. I then notice that I have pitched my tent in a clearing about 3 feet from nice ripe wild rasberries. I am too tired to care, but I do not eat any of them in deference to the bears. Here's the high point- I have stumbled into a stand of wild hops! Wild, Rocky Mountain hops. Pictures show them. The next morning, I have to tape my leatherman to one of my trekking poles and cut my food bag free. Apparently, paracord and cheap carabiners don't match up too well, and my bag was stuck in the tree... Powdered scrambled eggs, cheese sandwich and coffee. Old 8r worked fine. Packed it up and came back down, marveling at just how steep the trail looked going down. I have now done my first solo overnight. I'll keep the sleeping bag and the tent. The other gear needs replacing and I need to learn the zen of "ultralight"!!! Do I need a certain number of posts to add Pics? I just tried and it tells me I can only add a file 0 bytes in size.edit- Oh! I shoved the hydration bladder in the main compartment and it worked great!

Good job! Rain and first solo are not good moral boosters when combined, really bad if the rain gear fails too. You'll feel pretty good about it later. Learn to measure food, still, a good learning experience. Just do it! You are one up on me, I have never done a food hang, but I have never lost my food either.

Umm, find a small box of garbage compactor bags and put your clothes and stuff in it to keep things dry, lighter. One little thing at a time. Safeway has a smaller box count than Walmart if you go that way.

Thanks Duane again, and everyone who had tips. Wally world has twelve 2 1/2 gallon ziplock bags for 2.98 +tax. I had almost everything except my cloths in one kind of ziplock bag or another. Even though the pack has a bag compartment, I left my slumberjack bag in it's stuff sack and then packed cloths around it. Glad I did it that way as the cloths were dampened, and the bag was nice and dry. Safe trips all!

I use gatorade or powerade bottle as well. My son used a bladder on last trip. He offered me a drink, and I couldnt stand the after taste the bladder gave the water! Coka cola had some excellent light weight large mouth bottlesfor a while. I wish I could find some more of them! They were ultra light!

Wow. My bladder is a "new" army surplus "skilcraft" MOLLE II 100 oz bladder and imparts no taste whatsoever. Instructions advise baking soda in water to freshen and a small amount of bleach in water for more serious cleaning. I bet your son's hydration bladder sat with water in it for too long at one time, or some such thing. I am a non smoker and there's no after taste from the bladder I use now. You do have to drain the water that is sitting in the tube as you hike or walk, as it gets warm, but the water in the bladder stays amazingly cool. ( high 80s here and the bladder kept the water relatively cool in it's original carrier and in the main compartment of my pack. I really like the 100 oz bladder and bite valve. Oh, and to mention it, it's not a matter of taking my time, it's just easier. I have to take my time. I had to stop for a rest to catch my breath about every 50 feet for about the first half a mile or more on this last hike! Once I got going (although a smooth trail,it's steep, especially at first) I did better of course. So, it's not about stopping for a drink from a canteen or a bottle, it's just a little smoother, and it's a nice big carrier. Thanks again people!

Daryn, Photos can be added by linking to online photo storage sites like Photobucket. I know there are others, Shutterfly,Smugmug, Fiickr, Picassa (Google's) among them. I use Photobucket and with it, you click on the link under the picture then paste it into your post. If it works right, the photo shows up, not the link. Not sure how it works exactly, but that is the theory. It has nothing to do with being a new member, as far as I know.

Kent- If it's any help, tell your son to try a bladder full of water with some lemon juice added. ( I would let it sit for 24 hours ) Maybe that will help. As I said, mine is milspec surplus and not a "camelbak" branded one. Tom, I read the "rule" somewhere and a newb needs ten posts before posting pictures. I am there now and although the pics aren't that exciting, I'll try and post them later today.Thanks!

6.4 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 1000+ feet. Big hike for me and I felt it the next day. This mountain is west of Pikes Peak and the summit is about 10,600ft. The views from the top are splendid! The photos don't really do it justice.Atb!

Hello from Pueblo. Won't be too long it gets too cold to hike up there. I know some trails down here you might be interested in when the time comes. There are some safely open all winter as long as you keep a great eye on the weather.